The Unveiling

The refining room was a space of quiet power, filled with scattered plants and materials strewn across the table beside a large cauldron. The air was thick with the scent of herbs and the faint smell of smoke. Grandfather Yue, with steady hands, prepared a rare mixture, his fingers delicately manipulating the intestines of an animal for the concoction. His face was focused, calm—intent on his task. He had already prepared a warm bath for Yue Ling, though she had no idea, lost in her sulking for fourteen days. He hadn't pressed her; instead, he waited for her to come to him in her own time. Finally, when all was in order, he called for Butler San. "Go and fetch Ling'er," he instructed. Butler San bowed and left, heading toward the quiet space where Yue Ling had been brooding. When Yue Ling entered the room, her eyes widened. She had never stepped foot into the refining room before, and the sight of the ancient materials, cauldrons, and strange plants left her in awe. The room was like a secret world of its own. "You've decided to teach me how to refine?" Yue Ling's voice was laced with sarcasm. "It's a pity I can't cultivate, and without fire cultivation roots, what is the point of this?" She gestured vaguely at the intricate setup. Grandfather Yue chuckled, the sound rich and warm, yet tinged with sadness. "Ling'er, you're just like your mother. Come, sit beside me," he said, his voice a little gentler than before. "Let me tell you about her. About Yue Yue." Yue Ling's eyes narrowed, her curiosity piqued despite herself. Yue Yue? Her mother? She had never truly known the woman who had given birth to her, only fragments of stories. Grandfather Yue continued, not waiting for a response. "Yue Yue's name is known across the land. Her beauty was said to rival that of the stars—so much so that the emperors of distant tribes, even the Heavenly Emperor, sought her hand in marriage. Her beauty alone could make an empire fall." His tone grew distant for a moment, as if lost in a memory. "But something happened when your mother decided to take responsibility in the Heavenly Palace…" Yue Ling's brow furrowed, frustration bubbling up again. "What happened? What does all of this have to do with me?" Grandfather Yue's gaze softened as he looked at her. "For now, let me just tell you this—when you turn nine hunred and fifty, you will leave this place. But there is something more important now: your cultivation." Yue Ling shook her head. "I don't even have a spiritual root! How am I supposed to cultivate with nothing?" Grandfather Yue smiled gently, his voice full of quiet resolve. "Your bloodline, Ling'er, it's still dormant. But it needs to be awakened, coupled with Yue Ye's fighting skills." He paused, letting the weight of his words settle in. "And the time has come for you to begin." Yue Ling's thoughts swirled in confusion. "How? With what? I—" Before she could say anything more, Grandfather Yue interrupted with a soft chuckle. "You think it's too much to take in? Maybe, but you'll manage in time. Your mother was the same—determined, strong-willed, and unwilling to be held back." But Yue Ling wasn't quite ready to accept the heavy burden her grandfather placed on her. "This is too much! I need time to digest all this!" She turned away from him in frustration, wanting to escape the overwhelming flood of new information. In a moment of absent-mindedness, her frustration built up to the point where she lost control of her surroundings. Before she knew it, her body tipped forward, and she plunged straight into the cauldron. The hot liquid splashed up in a violent rush. "Ah!" Yue Ling screamed as she found herself immersed in the scalding brew. The heat seared her skin, but more than that, the shock of her situation left her breathless. Grandfather Yue rushed forward, his expression softening as he pulled her out of the cauldron after some minutes with surprising gentleness. "Ling'er, this is just the beginning." His voice was firm but not unkind. " The path ahead is long." Yue Ling, still in shock, could hardly comprehend his words. Was this truly the beginning? Or had she simply stumbled into something far greater than she could have ever imagined?